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Chocolate Heaven!

Chocolate is one of life's pleasures and it comes in all shapes and sizes. Thorntons is a chain of shops, established in 1911, specialising in all things chocolate, toffee and fudge, sweets and even wine and champagne.

Over the years, the range offered has grown, so wether you like milk, dark or white chocolates, pralines, mousses or truffles, there is something for everyone as Thorntons stock a wide range of different boxes to cover all tastes and box sizes. This christmas, i received a 460g box of special edition milk, white and dark Continental chocolates which featured a myriad of tastes and fillings and is my idea of heaven.

With the digital age ever expanding, Thorntons offer a range of gifts that can be bought for all occassions, either online or by visiting one of their shops, offering a range from birthdays, anniversaries and valentines day, to celebrating a wedding or a birth and wether it be chocolates or sweets or even a hamper full of goodies, Thorntons range is so diverse, you will find something for everyone's taste including a range of sugar free chocolates, suitable for people who have to watch their sugar intake and a vegetarian and gluten free range of products.

Special times of the year, including Christmas and Easter, means that you can buy chocolate santa clauses and reindeers and easter bunnies and certain items for sale can be personalised with somebody's name on them in white chocolate to make the gift extra special. Some of the range of Thornton's chocolates are now available at supermarkets where you can pick up a bargain or two, but for the full, extensive range of goodies it is best to visit one of their shops or go to their website as it is a pleasure in itself to view all the wonderful things on offer.

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Very overpriced.

I first started shopping at Thorntons last year. They do a great 5 for £3 offer on mini chocolates, perfect for adding to stockings or adding a little extra to gifts. This year, I have been left very disappointed with them.

I was looking at the store online, searching for a present for my boyfriend's family. I came across some alphabet truffles. These are essentially 2 rows of truffles with your choice of message iced on them. I decided to purchase them in store. So I went into store, picked up a box of truffles and requested that everyones' names gets iced onto the truffles.

The service was quite prompt and was done within a few seconds. They closed the lid and gave it back to me, telling me to keep it really still. I hadn't had a chance to look at t myself until I got home to find that a couple of the letters had been completely smudged. Assuming this was my fault, I politely went back to store and asked if they could re-ice them. They did. I took them home again and indeed, they were smudged again but had dried enough for me to salvage them and put them in the fridge to harden. I noticed a vital error in the chocolates. The "smudged" truffles were the ones where the truffle themselves had been filled too high, resulting in the icing letters being too high and therefore touching the lid whenever the lid was closed. I understand that all truffles can't be the same but the fact that they were alphabet truffles should have meant the company made sure the filling was low enough to make room for extra icing. And I'm appalled the the 2 members of staff who iced my truffles didn't say a thing. They must have noticed it as soon as they popped the lid over it. There was no way they could miss it. They should have offered to swap some of my truffles around as there were a few un-iced truffles that were filled lower and therefore had room for icing.

I do think they sell a great variety of chocolates and gifts but i think it's far too overpriced and the service isn't as great as you would expect from such a popular chocolate chain.

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will use again for gifts

if you are stuck on what to guy someone for a gift then thorntons is the place to go! We use our local shop in nuneaton, but i have noticed that asda has started selling boxes of thorntons as well. They sell a huge variety of gifts, you can buy boxes of chocolates in all sizes and they are decoration on the box is fantastic! You can buy chocolate eggs and make it personal by having something written on it, and if you just simple want a snack of chocolate then they sell small packets for you to nibble on. They sell so many different kinds of chocolate that it would be impossible to try every single one! The chocolate is very rich so you wouldn't be able to eat as much as you could normally eat chocolate like dairy milk etc, but it's a lovely treat to have! They also have a counter with individual chocolates so if you fancied trying one that you havn't tasted before it's a great way to try it before you buy a huge box! The only downside is i think it can be over priced, some of the larger gift box sets can be over £20! But i suppose if you are going to a chocolate specialist then you have to expect to pay a bit more! Will definately use again for gifts but not for buying my own personal chocolate.

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Get your choc fix without breaking the budget but don't expect to climax

I'm a bit disappointed with Thorntons lately. Is it me or they don't put that much energy into their chocolates anymore. There was a time that I was looking forward to trip to Thorntons store and now I find settling for likes of Tesco Finest chocolates selection far more rewarding. Underneath that fancy appetising packaging lay marzipan fruits all having identical flavour, brazil nuts covered in bitter but by no means dark chocolate or rhubarb crumble desert that tastes neither of crumble nor rhubarb. Admittedly I enjoyed their Turkish Delight but that's probably because it wasn't covered in chocolate. Unfortunately nowadays if I really want to impress someone I'm reduced to buying Hotel chocolat products that despite being far superior cost so much more, they take my chocolate cravings awayHas to be said - they operate very nice promotions indeed if you subscribed to their mailing list so if you're after spoiling your figure on a cheap...

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Thorntons

Chocolate Heaven Since 1911

Thorntons is a chocolate company established by Joseph William Thornton in 1911 in Britain. The year of establishment has been used in one of their famous marketing campaigns, "Chocolate heaven since 1911." According to an article I read Thorntons now has nearly 400 shops and cafes and a turnover over £180m. Thorntons is now the largest, independent chocolate and confectionary company in theUnited Kingdom.

You can find a Thorntons shop in just about every shopping centre and high street in England. They are easy to spot, featuring a decor of dark brown, which ironically almost makes you think of actual chocolate and is probably designed in that way to make you crave the good stuff! Sometimes the shops are small, almost kiosk size with just enough room for the counter and few shelves and sometimes the shops are very big and also contain a Thorntons cafe.

What's great about a Thorntons shop is that they offer a wide range of sweets and treats and it's not just chocolate that they offer. One of their favourite products is their special toffee. Apparently, special toffee is often cited as one of their favourite products and with their Continental range of chocolates accounts for almost £80 million of Thornton's sales. It's easy to see why as in my opinion it is a great quality product with an even better taste.Thornton's special toffee is said to be still created using traditional methods made of a special recipe with the finest brown sugar, golden syrup and rich creamy butter carefully blended and slow cooked in copper pans. according to the Thornton's website the toffee is , "Deliciously rich and creamy, yet simple, just the kind of gift to be enjoyed by all ages whatever the occasion!"

Thorntons Continental chocolates are their most popular assortment of chocolates. I love the fact that Thorntons chocolates are not boring and predictable like other boxes of chocolates. They have flavours like apricot parfait, alpini, champagne truffle and cappuccino. What's great is that they also sell their chocolates separately as individuals so can can buy a little bag of all your favourites without having to buy the whole box.

With Easter coming up soon a visit to a Thorntons shop is definitely recommended as they do a wonderful range of Easter eggs that you can personalise as well as all the other wonderful treats you will find in there.

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Yum.

No trip to town is complete without a visit to Thorntons. This lovely chocolate shop is situated in the high street of most big towns and it is my job to sniff out a branch every time I go somewhere new.

When you enter a Thorntons shop, the first thing that hits you is the sheer variety of different choccy products that they can pack into a small shop. there really is a good variety, and they make things that appeal to all ages.

When I was small, I would always go in with my mom and buy a jelly animal of some sort. They usually sell orange jelly fish, covered in sugar and individually wrapped, quite cheaply. There are also pocket money treats available, like fudge bites and chocolate footballs. They do an excellent range of chocolate lollipops for kids, for about 85p each. they recently were selling the halloween ones off cheaply, 5 for £1! we bought up the shop!

On the other end of the money scale, Thorntons produce beautiful boxes of continental chocolates, and even chocolate hampers. Many items they produce can be personalised as a gift.

Basically, whatever your budget, you will find something affordable in Thorntons, because they make such a good variety of items.

Our local Thorntons also sells ice cream. It looks really good quality and creamy.

I like Thorntons own chocolate bars, which are styled on their continental range of chocolates. this creates a product with a much more decadent feel than your average chocolate bar. At the moment, they are also selling a range of chocolate eggs, which are a decent size, and very moreish, even tempting me away from my beloved Cadbury creme egg!

The staff in Thorntons always appear smart and are always ready to help. They seem very happy in their work, who could blame them? I feel the service you receive in Thorntons is among the best in town.

Thorntons have diversified recently, and you can buy their products in many high street stores, such as Wilkinsons and Marks and Spencer, but for me, nothing beats the personal touch of going into their stores and taking in all of the chocolatiness!

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Lovely

Thorntons are one of the best known chocolatiers in the UK and have been producing chocolates for almost a hundred years. Their first shop opened in Sheffield and they are now based in Derbyshire with many outlets all over the nation. They pride themselves in making 'delicious chocolates for every occasion'.

I love Thorntons chocolates as they are always high quality. Their basic milk chocolate which is used as a basis for many of their chocolate selections and is used to produce their many chocolate animals and other objects is a really rich, creamy chocolate that for me is the ultimate comfort food.

Thorntons have a fantastic range of products. For those looking for a small gift or a treat for themselves, they make yummy chocolate lollies, small bags of sweets, chocolates or fudge, or even normal (but incredibly nice) chocolate bars. For people looking for cool gifts for children or the young at heart they make a range of large chocolate objects such as bears, monkeys, princesses or football boots. You can get messages iced on to these free of charge and this adds a lovely personalised touch that is charming to adults and exciting to children.

Thorntons also, of course, produce many large selection boxes of chocolates, including mints, truffles, or the famous Continentals. There is something for every taste, although I find these boxes can be quite expensive.

With regards to price, Thorntons sits at a good level. It is pricier than supermarket chocolates or the popular brands like Cadbury's or Mars, however it should be as it is generally higher quality. However it is cheaper than 'posh' chocolates like Hotel Chocolate or Green and Blacks, and yet the quality is not considerably lower, so I think it is really good value. The adorable chocolate animals are particularly well priced as they are quite large and yet will only set you back between £5 and £10.

The one thing I dislike about Thorntons stores though is that they tend to be quite small and quite cramped. In busy periods such as on Saturdays or any day in the lead up to Christmas they can be impossible to get into and your hope of actually getting near the shelves is almost non-existant. Queues can be long too. However it is worth it because the chocolate is just so good!

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Great for gifts or yourself

Thorntons is probably one of the best known chocolate shops across the country. The Thorntons brand is found within other shops/ supermarkets and there individual Thorntons shops which is what I am focusing this review on.

Each shop is quite small but sells a good range of chocolates and often other gift items. The range includes individual chocolates, small bars/ lollipops/ small bags of chocolates, other types of confectionary such as fudge and toffees and large selection boxes of chocolates. Many of the stores also have icecream counters and chocolate fountains. Some stores even have a small cafe area selling hot drinks and cakes.

The prices are not expensive, but not cheap. I think you pay slightly more than some ranges but you can taste that quality ingredients are used and I have to say that I have never had a bad chocolate from Thorntons! I would recommend buying their chocolates as gifts- you could even buy some smaller bags/ bars and make your own chocolate hamper. My favourites are the Dessert collection because it has more unusual chocolates like lemon meringue, and Continental selection which is more your traditional range of Thorntons chocolates.

I love browsing the stores and they do wonderful gifts for any occasion.

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The most delicious chocolates I know

What is it about Thorntons chocolate?

It's just absolutely heaven that's what it is!! I don't know how they do it but each one is so incredibly yummy. I spend ages looking at the description and the one's in the box deciding which one I'm going to have so that I can save the best till last - well actually they're all the best but the best of the best till last!!!

It's amazing that each one is so unique and so delicious. My favourite have to be the continental variety but that's all down to personal taste. I just love the delicate praline tastes - umm I can taste them now just thinking about them.

I had some for Christmas, I'm savouring them - I haven't eaten any yet! I'm working through some others I had first so that I can save the Thornton's ones.

They are very expensive but so very very worth it.

I just love the lay out of their shops too, they are so tantalising and display their chocolates in such a beautiful way no wonder we're drawn to buy them! I love the way you can still buy the individual chocolates if you wish just like olden times!!

I remember as I child I used to get an Easter Egg from my next door neighbour, a lovely old lady and I used to be in awe because this Easter Egg used to have my name on it! I remember thinking wow that's so clever and it's just for me!! At the time I had no idea it was Thorntons and I had no idea of the value - I think they still do write on them if you wish!

Then for my 18th birthday I remember having what looked like a basket of Thorntons chocolates and thinking wow! On looking a little closer I realised that the basket was actually chocolate and nougat - wow!! I couldn't believe my eyes it was a chocolate basket full of chocolates!! I don't think I've seen those recently perhaps they'll read this and bring them back!

Many supermarkets also stock Thorntons now - although I try not to go down the chocolate isle it's too tempting!!

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Really high quality chocolates, great for gifts or as a treat

There are lots of Thornton's stores within a short drive of my home in Manchester. They are all quite small, which is probably a good thing as I'd only want to buy more chocolate (eyes bigger than my belly!), but they have a really good range of chocolates. You can get small bars of different varieties of chocolate (as far as I remember they sometimes have a 4 for £2 promotion on these), bags of different types of confectionery (from toffees to continental chocolates to turkish delight), and large boxes of chocolates and toffees which make great gifts or just a treat for yourself.

Everything in store is very high quality, and you do pay extra for this, but even the more expensive items are well within even the smallest budgets. Two of the stores near me have an ice-cream counter / cafe, which expands on the range of chocolates with similarly-themed products to eat in store or take away. While this is very nice, it's so difficult to resist, at least with the chocolates I can wait 'til I get home before scoffing the lot!

For me, going to Thornton's is a luxury experience. You get to go and look at a wide range of lovely chocolates, which is so much more magical than going down to Tesco's for a big bar of Dairy Milk! It is more expensive, but they are a specialist chocolate shop, and it's very high quality.

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Treat yourself or a loved one today!

Thorntons

Description: Chocolates chain store.

http://www.eldon-square.co.uk/store_profile-4819.htm

http://www.thorntons.co.uk

It is getting to be that time of year, where Christmas presents are on everyones mind. For me, a integral part of the Christmas shop involves going to Thorntons for chocolate. This usually starts out under the guise of buying as a gift for someone else, but inevitably ends up with me also buying a treat or 2 for myself too!

I usually go to the one in Eldon Square in Newcastle (address above) which is also a coffee shop where you can also sit with a fab hot chocolate while you think about what to buy. If you are unable to get to a store, then you can also order from Thorntons online (website address above), or even just use the site to browse and get an idea of the kind of products that they sell.

The range is gorgeous and there are loads of personalised options, corporate gifts and festive gifts - you can even get diabetic chocolate which can be a lovely way to include loved ones who cannot eat normal sweet treats.

There is too much to mention here, but I recommend that you try the special toffee (smothered in chocolate - so good!) and if you are buying for the first time, maybe consider a box of mixed continental chocolates. That way you get to try loads of different ones and decide which are your favourites. You can also buy individual chocolates from the counter, so that can be another great way of tasting new ones - or just getting your favourite ones every time.

Prices range from quite reasonable to more expensive depending on what you buy, but this is good chocolate so you don't mind paying for it. They usually have seasonal offers on too, have a look at their website for further details.

Definitely recommend that you try this shop, if you like delicious and luxurious chocolate treats, then this is the place for you!

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Chocolate for all!!!

Thorntons is brilliant for the chocolate as it has everything for chocolate! You can get chocolate shape gifts including hearts, teddy bears, champagne bottles,frames and all sorts of other types of chocolates. Not only specially made chocolate but other good rich chocolate like Belgian chocolates!

You can also pick up boxes of mixed chocolate like Milk and Dark chocolate and the average price is around 9.99 for a box so the prices are not that bad either.

To make the deal even sweeter for customers at times you can get free chocolate boxes in store. It just happened to me a month ago bought a chocolate box and got a free small box free of milk chocolate. This offer tends to happen often from Thorntons so they are very rewarding back at times to their customers.

In all the branches I have been to here in the UK it has been the best customer service.All their staff have been helping and always showed me around the best chocolate. Sometimes you can request to have a free sample of chocolate so you know what you are buying.

I remember recalling a time where I bought the wrong box of chocolates for a friend. The refund process was simple they never even bothered opening the box and just offered me a refund on the spot. Thorntons is the right store to buy your self chocolate from. They offer good prices, good customer service and best of all the chocolate you get from here is damn tasty.

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Take your pick at Thorntons - and watch out for the coffee shops!

Thorntons are the ultimate chocolate emporium! The store offers a great selection of chocolate to suit all tastes including diabetic chocolate. They offer a free personalisation service, which is excellent for gift giving. They have all sorts of shapes which can be iced, e.g. princess or teddy bears. They have a selection of hand made chocolates so that rather than buy a pre-packed box of chocolates you can put extra thought and care into choosing something you know they will love!

They usually have great ideas in for all the major holidays and there is something for just about every pocket. From time to time they have special offer days - most recently a 30% off everything day which was amazing! Christmas is a great time at Thorntons with good value selection boxes including things like little packets of chocolate raisins, chocolate lollipops and something for everyone. Well packaged and a better idea than buying a generic selection box which is bound to contain something they will leave at the back of the cupboard!

Some branches also offer a coffee shop. Our local coffee shop is well staffed clean and bright with a good variety of "not very healthy" snacks and cakes. Worth a treat and not as expensive as I originally thought at around £3.20 for 2 speciality coffees.

Ideal for a gift, everything from lollipops and variety bags for children to individual chocolates which allow you to hand pick your very own collection. We give either a princess of a football iced with the childs name as part of a gift at birthdays and the personal touch always goes down well. Prices for these range from around £3.50 to £6.

All in all - a must for chocolate lovers and a great place to add that special touch to a gift.

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Great chocolate comes at a premium

Thorntons are a national chain for chocolate.

- Theirs is super good!

They sell in there own shops and online, but have also branched out in to having products in supermarkets round the country. They only sell fairtrade chocolate which is great. Many of their chocolates and gluten free and suitable for vegetarians, they also do ranges of diabetic chocolate. Their varieties are all well thought out and amazing!!! You can chose from just chocolate, basic types of combos to the really crazy mixes (Eden are wow!)

The chocolate is sold is various packaging from small bags to kilo boxes. Rather like a posh Belgian chocolate shop in their stores thay also have a counter display where you can pick your own chocolates . These do get pricey though.

They do stock some other sweets, such as fudge and in summer have ice cream - I think this is good, you know exactly what you will get when you go there!!!!

The downside is they are quite pricey. For a special gift this is fine but for something small on a budget it looks really small!!!! One think is that alot of the supermarkets have half price going alot on standard size boxes - always check it out.

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If you can afford that little bit extra you won't be disappointed

Like many I like ice cream and the odd rum and raisin or mr whippy does the trick - or it used to (sort of!)

We bought a couple this lunchtime at the doorway of a Thorntons cafe and boy did my ice cream needs change

I bought a double cone with rum and raisin and chocolate, and despite the cone being cone being filled until it exploded and the chocolate sauce nearly sticking my fingers together as it poured down them, I really loved it.

The chocolate flavour was gooey and absolutely what you expect of chocolate, dark and tasty. The rum and raisin also was to die for.

We have bought Thorntons chocolate before - mainly in their boxes that are now readily available at Tesco and other supermarkets, but you really need to experience their ice cream to understand.